Fabric folding machine



Sept. 27, 1949. G. HAI-:BERLIN 2,432,764

FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 194s 5 s nets-sheet' 1 |I 0.11s/VENTO@ 4| Gewfe Haeezflm BY ATT RNEY G. HAEBERLIN FABRIC FOLDINGMACHINE Sept. 27, 1949.

Filed Dec. lO, 1946 y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 27, l949.j G, HAEBERLINFABRC FOLDING MAUHNE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. l0, 1946 Patented Sept.27, 1949Y 2,4%2354; -FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE George Haeberlin,Richmond,*Va., assignerto Richmond Pierce Dye vtion of Virginia Works,Inc., a lcorporay AThe present inventionrrelates to an improve ment infabric folding machines and has vas its object a 'zigzag 'folding offabric by means of Ione or more rodsmoving -tfl'irough aclo'sed path.Further objects of the invention will appearnfromw the followingdescription read in conjunction with' the drawing".`

One embodiment of the invention is shown, by way of example, in thedrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the folding machine of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view along plane 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along plane 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Y Fig. 5 is a plan view of a detail of construction; and

Fig. 6 is a side view of the detail shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, standards I, 2, arms 3, 4 pivotallyconnected on top of the latter, and sprocket supports 5, 6 projectingfrom and rigidly connected at right angles to said arms 3, 4, togetherwith adjustable braces 1, 8, constitute the framework of my machine.Bearing plates 45, 46 which support bearings 9, I8 for the rotatablesupport of shaft I I and horizontal feeder roll I2 carried thereby, aremounted on top of channel-frame standards I, 2. To the inner side ofstandards I, Z, there are bolted bearing plates 33, 34, the journalsurfaces of which are formed by sleeves 41, 48 (Fig. 2), through whichshaft II extends. Nuts 39 and 48 secure to said sleeves arms 3 and4which are rotatably carried thereon. Braces 1, 8 (Figs. 1 and V3) servefor supporting arms 3 and 4, one end of said braces being connected by abolt such as 4I or 42 to one of said arms, the other end being providedwith several orifices 35, 36 through any'pair of which braces 1, 8 maybe adjustably fastened to standards I, 2 by bolts 31, 38. Sprocketsupports 5, 6 (Figs. 1 and 3) are bolted at their upper ends to arms 4,5 and carry at their lower ends idler sprockets 23, 24. Shaft IIcarries, adjacent feeder roll I2, driving sprocket wheels I9, 20 (Figs.1 and 2) rigidly connected to said shaft.

Horizontal'feeder roll I2 is provided with a number of laths or slatsI3, of a material suitable for frictional engagement with the fabric tobe folded, for instance, wood. The outer surfaces of these slats all lieon the same circumference and the slats are so dimensioned as to'permitrods I4, I5 and I6 to be completely nested be- A solaims. (orare- 7.9)V

themselves in a closed pathbymeans ofv an endless flexible. drive, forinstance, chainsv I1 and YI8. "jThe rods are connectedin parallel at'oneen d to .chain'H andatthe other Aend to parallel chain I8,

dividing saidchainsintosetions :of equal length. `This connection may beeffected, Yas `shown in the ruouslyfolding a web of textilematerial inzig welded to the chain line (I8) by means of bolt 32 and nut 28.Endless chain I1 is carried by driving sprocket I9 and idler sprockets2I and 23 (Fig. 1) and endless chain I8 by driving sprocket 20 and idlersprockets 22 and 24 (Fig. 2). Slots 43, 44 provided in the outer ends ofarms 3, 4 and through which idler sprockets 2|, 22 are attached to saidarms, make possible the adjustment of the tension of chains I1, I8.

Shaft I I is rotated by any known driving means, for instance, pulley 25borne by an extension of shaft I I (Figs. 1 and 2). Table 26 may beplaced below idler sprockets 2 I, 22 and 23, 24 to receive the foldedfabric.

The method of operation of the folding ma- Y chine of my invention is asfollows:

Fabric 21 to be'folded is drawn over feeder roll I2 and over whicheverone of rods I4, I 5 and I 6 is in the upper leg of chains I1 and I8 andallowed to drop onto folding table 26 (Fig. 1). Shaft II and therewithdriving sprockets I9, 20 and feeder roll I2 are caused to rotate in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, thus starting chains I1, I8and rods I4, I5, I6 on their endless course. From this point on thefolding machine operates automatically, fabric being fed on to rods I4,I5 and I6 by feeder roll I2 and being deposited by said rods ontostacking table 26 in the form of alternate zigzag folds.

Inr order to assure the optimum frictional engagement of the fabric 21to be folded with feeder roll I2, the effective engagement surface ofthe roll may be varied by means of braces 1, 8, the maximum engagementbeing obtained when arms 3, 4 denne the smallest possible angle withstandards I, 2.

The above description is by way of illustration and not of limitationand it is therefore my intention that the invention be limited only bythe following claims or their equivalents wherein I have endeavored toclaim broadly all inherent novelty.

I claim:

1. A textile web folding machine for continfolds comprising at least twohorizontally tween same. These rods are moved,parallel t0 55 posedfabric web carrier rods, means defining stantially horizontally disposedfabric web carrier rods in excess of two is provided, in which saidmeans defining an endless path of travel for said rods are composed oftwo opposing endless guide means for said rods and of substantiallycongruous configuration relative to each other, and in which said drivemeans are operatively -connected to said -rods ,to move the same alongsaid guide means.v A

3. AV textile Web folding machine in accordance with claim 2 in which`additional means are provided to adjust the lvertical inclination ofsaid path of travel to-thereby vary its horizontal eX- tent.

4. A textile web folding machine in accordance with claim 3 in whichsaid means for continuously passing a web of textile material onto saidpath include a substantially horizontal feeder roll positioned to feedsuch textile web ,onto said rods.

5. A textile web folding machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein theperiphery of said feeder roll substantially coincides in part with saidclosed path and defines longitudinal recesses in which said rods arenested While in engagement with -said feeder roll and in which saidvertical inclination of said path is adjusted by rotation of said pathabout said feeder roll.

V H GEORGE HAEBERLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of'patenti' UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 Number rName l Y l Date 1,290,800 vTeall Jan. '7, 1919 1,858,565 Sokolow et al. May 1'7, 1932 FOREIGNPATENTS 25 Number Country. Date 169,635 Great Britain oct. 61921

